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As a reptile keeper, it is very important to observe and learn the behaviour of your animals. Everyone's memory lets them down from time to time, so the best way of overcoming this is to keep an individual "Reptile Care Sheet" for each animal. The few moments it takes to complete the sheet, will repay you with a wealth of information and history about your animal as it develops, grows, or breeds. Such "Reptile Care Sheets" are also useful when you go on holiday, when that can inform those who are looking after your reptile when you are away, allow you to check that your animals have been fed and well cared for when you are away, and also quickly notice any changes in behaviour or routine, resulting from your absence.
So what should go on a "Reptile Care Sheet?"
What you're trying to achieve is as complete a record of your animal as possible - think what would happen to your reptiles if you couldn't be there. Who would look after them? Would they know what to do, and when, and how to do it. Do they know how your animal behaves, and what the eat, and where they would get a supply of food? Plus, take care that your animal may not be familiar with others, and may display fear, aggression or stress in an unfamiliar situation.
So for your individual "Reptile Care Sheet" consider including the following:-
1) Common and Latin Names
2) Gender, plus details and dates of breeding behaviour exhibited.
3) Date of Birth/Acquisition into your collection. If bred maintain a "family tree" both for interest and developing particular characteristics and also to avoid inbreeding.
4) Information on the breeder, or details of wild caught specimens.
5) Feeding requirements. The date, time and environmental condition when fed or not successfully fed. Plus, details of what your reptile eats, when, how much, and how feeding behaviour is stimulated. Don't forget to add details of any vitamin or other supplements you are using, and importantly were, name, address and opening times of your food supplier.
6) Habitat requirements. This is the temperature, humidity, substrates, cover, lighting and UV conditions that you are maintaining in your reptile's vivarium. Information on the original or natural habitat of your reptile should also be considered as this often provides a useful insight into the conditions required to maintain your reptile in good condition, and even assist in stimulating breeding condition if this is one of your objectives.
7) Distinguishing features or marks. Consider adding photographs of your reptile taken from a number of different angles to identify your reptile either in the event of its loss, or to compare its development over time.
8) Weight and condition assessment. Sensitive electronic scales are now widely available. Weigh your reptile on a regular basis both to maintain your development records, but also as an early warning system of illness or breeding/behavioural issues.
9) Veterinary and parasite treatments - essential for long term maintenance.
10) Contacts. Details of others who keep similar reptiles. Food and reptile suppliers. Vet's telephone number, etc.
11) Miscellaneous information. Anything that is not covered by the items above, but just might in the future provide useful detail for you as a successful Reptile Keeper.
This "Reptile Care Sheet" is a guide. You should add and develop your "Care Sheets" and tailor them to your reptile. The guide often is the more information recorded the better, - but remember you need the time to maintain the full record, and for it to be of benefit.
Happy Reptile Keeping! |
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